Desailly: Marcel Desailly thinks he could play another season in Europe with the English Premier League his favoured destination. The 37-year-old former Chelsea defender, who is without a contract after leaving Qatar Sports Club, was approached by struggling Ligue 1 team Strasbourg last month."I decided to leave Qatar because there weren't any financial or sporting reasons to keep me there any longer," Desailly said. "I feel like I can play again in Europe. I feel like I can play until I'm 38."

Toni: Serie A top scorer Luca Toni has blamed supernatural forces for his inability to score his 17th goal of the season. The Italy international started off the season at a phenomenal rate, scoring 16 goals in Fiorentina's opening 13 Serie A matches. In the three games since, however, he has failed to score. In Italy the number 17 is considered unlucky, just as 13 is in England. "I admit it: I'm starting to believe in the curse of the 17th goal," Toni said. "I'm a fairly superstitious person."

Hot Tickets: Tickets for Benfica's Champions League match at home to Liverpool next year sold out within 10 hours of going on sale. Benfica allocated Liverpool fans 3,200 tickets in the 65,000-capacity Luz stadium for the first knockout round, first leg match on February 21.

Behrami: Lazio midfielder Valon Behrami will be out of action for about a month after damaging ligaments in his right foot during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Juve. The 20-year-old Swiss was carried off on a stretcher towards the end of the first half of the match after going down under a heavy challenge by Juve defender Fabio Cannavaro. The injury will keep him out of Serie A matches against Lecce, Ascoli, Parma and Messina.

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund have made a double swoop for Vitesse Arnhem striker Matthew Amoah and Ajax midfielder Steven Pienaar. Ghana striker Amoah, 25, has signed a contract for two years. South Africa midfielder Pienaar, 23, agreed a preliminary three-year contract but will not join Dortmund until the end of the season.